Drier lint trap



Dec. 20, 1960 DRIER LINT TRAP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1957 0 2 4 ff m. 3/ 6 a 2 Q k f a) 0 0 a M 0 J 8 a m m w 4 6 6 4.2 9 2 M U 0 ,9 4 |W d N F m m b ATTORNEY Dec. 20, 1960 c; 'R. STELLJES Em 2,964,851

DRIER LINT TRAP Filed Dec. 23, 1957' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NTOR CHARLES IK ETELEJES J Ell-IN E. BRIDSEPD'RD BY JOSEPH KU DLICK ATTURNEY 1960 c. R. STELLJES ETAL 2,964,851

DRIER LINT TRAP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 23, 1957 ATTURJYEY Patented Dec. 20, 19 60 DRIER LINT TRAP Charles R. Stelljes, Fayetteville, N.Y., Jack E. Bridgeford, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Joseph Kudlick, Syracuse, N.Y., assignors to The Murray Corporation of America, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 704,831

8 Claims. (CI. 34-82) This invention relates to laundry driers, and more particularly to a novel lint catcher therefor.

In laundry dryers of the tumbling variety, the flexing of clothes during the tumbling operation tends to free loose lint from the clothes, and such lint is discharged from the drum by the movement of the gaseous drying medium circulating through the drum. I In recirculating driers employing condensers for moisture removal, such lint in time tends to pile up and requires removal in order to preserve the proper operation of the machine. Even where the heating medium is not recirculated but exhausted outside the establishment, such lint becomes a nuisance, since it contains suflicient moisture to cause it to tend to adhere-to ducting, elbows and the like.

It has generally been considered preferable to provide a suitable filter screen or catcher for such lint immediately adjacent to the-discharge from the tumbling drum. However, the location has not always been sufiiciently accessible so that desirable frequent attention by the average-user would be given. When such screens become clogged and choked from insuflicient cleaning, the flow of drying air is impeded, the drier overheats, its sensitive controls are rendered inoperative, and the drier operation is rendered ineflicient and ineffective.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a lint screen so disposed immediately within the access door as to be readily accessible for frequent attention. The invention is further directed to a lint screen which is disposed radially in the door frame. The invention is still further directed to a ducting construction leading radially from the door frame, and within which there is removably disposed a radially slidable lint screen.

'The invention further has to do with the construction of radial ducting so as to cooperate with the lint screen in order to screen the lint from the drying air as such air emerges from the drum into a region around the door frame, and flows radially away from the frame through the ducting.

. Theabove and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a front view of a drier cabinet of generally rectangular configuration and having a door;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure l;

with parts cut away and parts in section of the door frame, and discharge ducting;

.Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

members.

In Figure 1, there is shown a cabinet 10, having a front panel 12, rectangular door recess 14, rectangular door 16, hinged as at 18 and nesting in the recess, by means of which access to the drier tumbling drum 20 is had. Door recess 14 in the front panel 12 is provided with a circular opening 22 for access to the tumbling drum. The tumbling drum comprises an outer cylindrical wall 24, a back wall and bearings and drive (not shown), and a front annular wall 26, such annular Wall having a large central opening 28 bounded by a large diameter bearing flange 30. The flange 30 is adapted to ride on an annular felt strip 32 which acts as a bearing and a seal. The felt strip is supported on an annular shelf 34 of an annular stationary door frame member generally indicated at 36, such member having an inwardly extending section 38 and a circular generally cylindrical door frame forming section 40. The section 40 extends forward to an annular flange 42 which is coupled to the circular opening in the door recess, through an annular rounded E sectioned rubber or the like gasket 46, the outer face of which coacts in a sealing relation with the inside panel 48 of the hinged door, when closed.

The annular shelf or felt bearing support 34 is pro-- vi-ded with a flange 50, to which is secured a radially and tangentially extending back discharge duct panel or rear plate 52 which, together with a second plate 54, form the discharge duct. The plate 52 has an arcuate edge 54 adapted to abut the outside surface of the annular section 40 of the door frame; A segmental portion of the plate is cut away as at 56, 58 and. 60 to provide an opening from the annular space 62 forwardly through the plate as at 64. The plate 52 extends downwardly and at its lower end is provided with a circular outlet 65, adapted to be connected to the inlet of a blower 67 located therebehind.

The forward plate 54 has a marginal rearwardly extending oifset 66 which provides a marginal wall, and suitable spacing between the plates 52 and 54 to form the duct. Such oflset extends radially as at 68 from the annular section 40, thence laterally as at 70,.

downwardly as at 72, around the blower outlet 65, and

thence upwardly as at 74 to the annular section 40. .'A suitable marginal flange 76 is spot welded to the plate 52 to affix the plates-together. plates 78 and 80 are radially disposed at either end of the annular space 62, and substantially in the planes ofthe radial portion 68 of the offset 66, and the plane of the oflset portion 74 where it extends to the annular section 40. The plates 78 and 80 extend from the radial wall 38 to the plate 52, and from the annular section 40 to annular bearing shelf. 34, to block off and Figure 3 man enlarged fragmentary elevational view define the annular or arcuate region 62. In Figure 4,

the plate is shown, as extending from the offset 74 to which it may be spot welded as at 83. The plate 52 is notched slightly at 79 and 81 (see Figure 5) to accommodate the plates 78 and 80, and the construction at either may be similar to that shown in Figure 4. The

radial portion 38 of the door frame, between the plates 78 and 80, is cut away, and provided with coarse grill work as at 82, of quarter inch'or larger mesh, which will allow free flow of lint laden air from within the drum into the arcuate region 62, the grill being required to confine'the tumbling clothes within the drum. Theplate 52 is spot welded to the flange 50 as at 84. v I

The annular section 40 is provided with an opening v86, bounded bya radially outward offset, as indicated" at 88 and 90, at either end, the offset being arcuate along its length as at 92 and 94. The aperture thus formed" is adapted to radially receive an arcuate filter tray formed of relatively fine wire mesh, the tray being open rear-.-

Rectangular bulkhead wardly to face the opening 64 in the plate 52, leading to the region 62. Such tray comprises an arcuate plate 100 having a radially outwardly extending marginal flange 102 around its periphery. An arcuate felt strip 104 is secured to the convex face of plate 100, and a convenient strap handle 106 is secured to its concave face. The depth of the offset 88, 90, 92 and 94 is approximately the thickness of the felt 104, and plate 102. A screen supporting frame of 8 section, and having inner and outer arcuate sections 108 and 110, and connecting parallel sections 112 and 114 is secured to the plate 100, the arcuate section 108 being held upon the felt strip 104 and to the plate by any suitable fastening means such as rivets 116, extending through the felt strip. The S strip is clamped about the marginal edge of the filter screen cup 118 as at 120, and serves to hold in clamping relation a felt seal 122 which extends around the frame and is adapted to contact the plate 52.

Angle guide pieces 124 and 126 are spot welded to the plate 52, and are suitably spaced to receive and guide the parallel sections 112 and 114 of the filter frame. Spaced leaf springs 128 and 130 are suitably secured to the plate 100 at one end by having their ends clamped in the S strip, with the screen wire where the rivets 116 are located, and are adapted to yieldingly bear against the plate 54, and urge the felt seal 122 against the plate 52. The other ends of the springs are clamped in the arcuate portion 110 of the 8 member, along with the screen wire 118. The plate 100 may be provided with legend reading Front, as indicated at 132, to assure the correct insertion of the lint screen into the opening.

It will be seen that with the lint screen disposed in place, as is indicated in Figure 1, and shown in Figure 2, drying medium carrying lint passes from within the drum, through the grill 82 into the region 62, and through the aperture 64 in the plate 52. The lint laden air is then caused to flow through the screen 118 which separates the lint, the lint free air then flowing to the discharge outlet 60 and thence the blower 67. Merely opening the access door 16 renders the lint screen immediately accessible to the operator, who may grasp the handle, and by radial inward motion, draw the line screen radially inward on its guides. Thus the screen is readily removed for cleaning the lint deposited thereon. After clearing of lint, the screen is reinserted into the opening, and slid radially outward to its effective position as shown in Figure 2, with the felt seal 104 in engagement with the arcuate offset surrounding the opening 86, and with the felt seal 122 engaging the plate 52, under the light pressure of the bowed leaf springs 128 and 130. When so inserted, the plate 100 lies flush with the cylindrical portion 40 of the door frame, and is thus completely out of the way.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. 'In a laundry drier, an annular access door frame, an annular tumbling drum seal located radially outwardly from said frame, a drum having an annular end wall, the inner marginal edge of said end wall engaging said seal, an annular wall extending radially from said frame and having a cylindrical flange supporting said seal, said annular wall having a segmental discharge grid therein said door frame having a segmental slot axially spaced from said, grid means defining an axially extending short conduit of segmental cross-section terminating adjacent said slot with a segmental opening of arcuate length. less than the arcuate length of said slot and a lint screen insertable and removable through said slot, and disposed to overlie the conduit opening and intercept drying medium discharged from the drum through said grid.

2. In a laundry drier, an annular access door frame, an annular tumbling drum seal located radially outwardly from said frame, a drum having an annular end wall, the inner marginal edge of said end wall being cylindrically flanged and engaging said seal, an annular wall extending radially from said frame and having a cylindrical flange supporting said seal, said seal comprising an annular felt strip and comprising a bearing for said drum, said annular wall having a segmental discharge grid therein, a circumferential slot in said door frame axially spaced from said segmental grid, means defining an axially extending short conduit of segmental cross-section terminating adjacent said slot with a segmental opening of arcuate length less than the arcuate length of said slot, and a lint screen insertable and removable through said slot, and disposed to overlie the conduit opening and intercept drying medium discharged from the drum through said grid.

3. In a laundry drier, a cabinet having a front wall, an annular door frame mounted on the front wall and having a substantially cylindrical door frame defining section, a radial annular section spaced from said front wall, and a forwardly extending cylindrical portion disposed radially outwardly of the door frame section adapted to form a bearing, a dried drum having an annular front wall journalled on said bearing, axially spaced forward and rearward walls extending radially from said door frame section and said cylindrical bearing portion to define a section of a radial discharge duct, said rearward wall having a segmental opening adjacent said door frame section, a segmental grill in said radial annular section, and radial and axially extending walls disposed between said cylindrical door frame, bearing, radial annular section, and rearward wall to define an arcuate sectioned axial discharge port connecting said drum with said radial discharge duct, said door frame having a circumferential slot opposite said radial duct, a lint screen tray slidable through said slot and facing said opening and having a rim engaging said rearward wall, and means for discharging lint laden drying medium from said drum through said grill, said opening, said tray, and into said radial discharge duct.

4. In a laundry drier, a cabinet having a front wall, an annular door frame mounted on the front wall and having a substantially cylindrical door frame defining section, a radial annular section spaced from said front wall, and a forwardly extending cylindrical portion disposed radially outwardly of the door frame section adapted to form a bearing, a drier drum having an annular front wall journalled on said bearing, axially spaced forward and rearward walls extending radially from said door frame section and said cylindrical bearing portion to define a section of a radial discharge duct and lying in planes normal to the drum axis and located between the drum and front wall, said rearward wall having a segmental opening adjacent said door frame defining section, a segmental grill in said radial annular section, and radial and axially extending walls disposed between said cylindrical door frame and bearing, radial annular section, and rearward wall on either side of said grill and segmental opening to define an arcuate sectioned axial discharge port connecting said drum with said radial discharge duct, said door frame having a circumferential slot opposite said radial duct, a lint screen tray'slidable through said slot and facing said segmental opening and having a rim engaging said rearward wall, and means for discharging: lint laden drying medium from said drum through said grill, said. screen tray, and into said radial discharge duct.

5. In a dryer, of the tumbling type,v in combination, a stationary tubular member forming an access opening, a duct extending radially therefrom, said duct ha ing a rear planar wall disposed substantially normal to the axis of said tubular member, said wall having an opening therein adjacent the tubular member, said tubular member having an arcuate slot adjacent to and wider than said segmental opening immediately forward of said wall, and a shallow lint screen tray extending through said slot having a rim adapted to engage said wall within said duct over an area encompassing said opening and bounded by said tubular member, said lint screen tray having means at its inner end of a configuration to close said slot.

6. In a dryer, of the tumbling type, in combination, a stationary tubular member forming an access opening, a duct extending radially therefrom, said duct having a rear planar wall disposed substantially normal to the axis of said tubular member, said wall having a segmental opening therein adjacent the tubular member, said tubular member having an arcuate slot adjacent to and wider than said segmental opening immediately adjacent the inside surface of said planar wall, and a shallow lint screen tray removably extending through said slot having a rim adapted to engage said inside wall surface over an area encompassing said opening and bounded bysaid tubular member, said lint screen tray having an inner end support wall of a configuration corresponding to the inside surface of said tubular member adjacent said slot.

7. In a laundry drier, a cabinet having a front wall, an annular door frame mounted on said front wall, said frame having an annular portion extending rearwardly from the front wall to form an access opening, and said portion having an annular outwardly extending flange terminating in a forwardly extending cylindrical section of substantially less axial length than said rearwardly extending annular portion, a revolving dryer drum having an annular front end wall disposed and rotatable about said cylindrical section, a running seal between said end wall and said cylindrical section, a duct leading radially from said door frame having axially spaced plates forming front and rear duct walls, said rear wall being afiixed to the forward end of said cylindrical section,

and extending to said rearwardly extending portion, and

opening, and a shallow lint screen tray having an arcuate end support, and removably extending through said slot and into said duct, said tray having a rim adapted to engage said wall over an area encompassing said opening and bounded by said door frame portion, said tray being removable for cleaning by radially inward movement through said slot in the annular access opening portion of said door frame.

8. In a laundry drier, a cabinet having a front wall, an annular door frame mounted on said front wall, said frame having an annular portion extending rearwardly from the front wall to form an access opening, and said portion having an annular outwardly extending flange terminating in a forwardly extending cylindrical section of substantially less axial length than said rearwardly extending annular portion, a revolving dryer drum having an annular front end wall disposed and rotatable about said cylindrical section, an annular felt seal and bearing between said end wall and said cylindrical section, a duct leading radially from said door frame having axially spaced plates forming front and rear duct walls, said rear wall being affixed to the forward end of said cylindrical section, and extending to said rearwardly extending portion, and having a segmental opening disposed between said door frame portion and cylindrical section, and said radial flange having a perforate section, for discharge from said drum into the annular region formed by the annular door frame portion, flange and cylindrical section, and through the segmental opening in said rearward duct wall, said door portion having an arcuate slot immediately forward of the plane of said rearward duct wall and adjacent siad segmental opening, and wider than said opening, and a shallow lint screen tray having an arcuate end support, and extending through said slot and into said duct, said tray having a rim adapted to engage said wall over an area encompassing said opening and bounded by said door frame portion, said tray being removable for cleaning by radially inward movement through said slot in the annular access opening portion of said door frame, said tray having an arcuate member of a configuration conforming to the inside surface of said annular portion of said door frame, whereby to seal said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,722,750 Smith et a1. Nov. 8, 1955 2,722,751 Steward Nov. 8, 1955 2,814,130 Cayot Nov. 26, 1957 2,835,048 Olthuis et al. May 20, 1958 2,861,355 Douglas Nov. 25, 1958 

